After reading the chapter on Documentary Photography in The Photograph by Graham Clarke I started to think about what it is to document something and how the approach needs to be adapted to the subject. In this case the subject is 'an issue pertinent to my own photographic truth/reality'. So, what is the issue and what is my photographic reality? I don't have a clue what my photographic reality is so I'm just going to think in terms of 'general' reality and the issue, I have chosen to be 'exposure'. 

I thought about exposure because the first word that came in to my head, when asked to describe this point in my life, was 'exposed'. Exposed to complete independence. The need to be self-sufficient, the things I have seen and situations I have dealt with but probably the most daunting of all, to me, is the only reason I am here; Photography. Though clearly I have been aware of this exposure I have never struggled with it, it has more been a cause to question; A lack of certainty. 

According to Graham Clarke's book I understand 'document' to mean 'evidence' - 'a truthful account not to be questioned'. The widespread view is that this type of photography should seek to be as objective as possible and while it is recognised that this neutrality is limited by the social and cultural background of the both the photographed and the photographer surely this limitation reaches a new level when we attempt to act as passive recorders of our own lives. If there is one thing we cannot detach our selves from it is ourselves. Recognising this, I am not going to attempt to be phlegmatic in my approach but instead create a series of involved images, perhaps visual metaphors that intend to describe feeling.

With the exception of maybe a couple of the images posted so far, it is obvious that they do not fall into this frame. This is partly because when taking them I was yet to recognise my aims but also, I took most of them at home. At home I don't relate to the 'issue' outlined above in any way. I still think that shooting my first film at home made for a good springboard from which to launch my ideas, if for no other reason than seeing what I don't want in order to see what I do.